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Any SxS shotgun fans on here?

I shoot mostly over and under but I love a side by side as a treat occasionally. I've had a bunch over the years. Nothing really expensive though. CZ, Dickenson, Bernardelli and the sort. Looking for one that is not very expensive that you can beat and one that has investment value going forward would seem to be conflicting goals. Get a CZ and beat it like a rented mule. Get an Aya, hunt it lightly and take good care of it. If you really want to go funky, look at some of the Italian Hammer Guns. I had a Bernardelli 12 gauge with 30 inch barrels that I kick myself for selling. I think that some of the Turkish guns are a good buy these days. Some of them are up there with the better Spanish guns (like Aya) but substantially cheaper. Dickenson is one that I like. That Turkish company also made shotguns for major firearms names.
 
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Have no idea what the pricing situation is, but I'm surprised that Ithaca hasn't been mentioned as a possible used make. I have an Ithaca side by side double that my great grandfather bought new sometime in the 1905-1910 time frame that still functions just fine - 28", modified and full, two triggers, which makes choosing which barrel you wish to discharge a puff. Just another thought.
 
RegionRat said:
Then you could tell us how hard it is to find 28 GA ammo too! LOL
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My academy and my shelf is covered up with it. There has never been a shortage of it here. Now 410 is a different story. The judges ruined that supply. I think im the only one that has a 28ga within a few hundred miles. They have a limit of 2 boxes and when i show up a week or 2 later the boxes will be in the same spot not even looked at unless they restock the shelf and straighten them up
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Id sure like to have a tiny 28ga
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I've fallen in love with 28 gauge these days. Bought a Caesar Guerini over and under with 32 inch barrels from a friend who has a much higher budget than I do. He had replaced it with something much more up scale. I shoot that 28 as well as I do a my 12 or 20. Out shooting sporting clays the first time after I bought it and I shot an 82. I shoot with guys who shoot in the 90's and shoot competitively, that's not me, I'm a rifle guy so I was delighted with the 82.

The second time I shot it I was going toe to toe with a friend who was shooting his custom Kolar 12 gauge. He shoots competitively as well. The owner of the sporting clay facility said he had a bucket of once fired 28 gauge hulls I could have. Hell yeah! Turned out that the bucket was a 5 gallon bucket full of hulls. Then he had another bunch of boxes and bags that added up to another 8 or so gallons of hulls. I'm loading them now. I'll be shooting a lot of 28 gauge.
 
ronsatspokane said:
I've fallen in love with 28 gauge these days. Bought a Caesar Guerini over and under with 32 inch barrels from a friend who has a much higher budget than I do. He had replaced it with something much more up scale. I shoot that 28 as well as I do a my 12 or 20. Out shooting sporting clays the first time after I bought it and I shot an 82. I shoot with guys who shoot in the 90's and shoot competitively, that's not me, I'm a rifle guy so I was delighted with the 82.

The second time I shot it I was going toe to toe with a friend who was shooting his custom Kolar 12 gauge. He shoots competitively as well. The owner of the sporting clay facility said he had a bucket of once fired 28 gauge hulls I could have. Hell yeah! Turned out that the bucket was a 5 gallon bucket full of hulls. Then he had another bunch of boxes and bags that added up to another 8 or so gallons of hulls. I'm loading them now. I'll be shooting a lot of 28 gauge.
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I have a benelli ultralight and a beretta o/u. Seems like the 28 throws a better pattern than a 12 or 20
 
One of my vices, classic American SXS's.
20 ga featherweight L C Smith with 26" barrels. Have one with single sighting plane rib, double triggers, and extractors. Single sighting plane rib is a solid rib raised slightly so ones sight picture looks like you are shooting a single barrel. Once one gets used to a double trigger, I find them more versatile and reliable(particularly in the old doubles). Personally like extractors vs ejectors. Not for sale.
Although I prefer the classic American SXS's, a close second is my Beretta 20 ga O/U with 26" barrels, single trigger, ejectors, and an english grip.
 
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SShooterZ said:
Some of the best here: https://connecticutshotgun.co/

If you're on a smaller budget, see if you can find a Browning BSS or an Ithaca/SKB 200s model. They seem to last forever and will hold their value as I've only seen them go up over the last 20+ years.

If you want super reliable and super inexpensive, Stevens 311 series or a little nicer, the 530 series.
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Back in the mid 70's, I had an Ithaca SKB 200E. It was absolute death on quail in South Texas. Light, quick and it shot where you looked. It was one of the best shotguns I ever shot. And I've run quite a few tons of lead through a shotgun barrel in my lifetime. At the time, I think I paid less than $300 for it new. I wonder where it is now.
 
Blackthorn said:
Buy an AyA #2. Covers all your points and it is a beautiful gun. Get over the stigma of hunting with it as it might get some scratches and put birds on the ground.
Life is to short to hunt with an ugly gun..
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Years ago, wife, I and another couple were bird hunting in South Dakota. I was using my new Armis Garbi, exhibition stock, small fortune for me. Fantastic morning hunting, my GPS was a rock star. We were taking a break at the trucks having lunch, resting the dogs. My shotgun was leaning on the rear tire. My buddy flips out and said my dog just pissed on my gun! I wiped it off with some water, but it left a mark.
He was besides himself. I told him that dog would be gone some day, but I'll always remember him and that day with fond memories. True story, I loved that dog! His name was "Moon", my handle on this site. Dog is long gone, still have the gun, with his mark on the stock.
 
OmegaRed said:
They are on the list. I've seen a few that I have saved and am going to follow up on.
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See if you can go somewhere that has a few, Cabelas or someplace. Through em up and see how they fit. Also, if looking at used, make sure it's Rt handed cast. I bought a lovely little 28 Ceasar used that just didn't fit. You can get the stocks bent for a better fit.
 
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